Cover for wells or cisterns



J. S. REDLINE.

COVER FOR WELLS 0R GISTERNS.

No. 878,010. Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrce.

JOSEPH s. BEDLINE, OF nnRRs, PENNSYLVANIA.

COVER FOR WELLS OR ClSTERN-S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 376,010, dated January 3, 1888.

Applicatiomfiled September 27, 1887. Serial No. 250,861. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osEPnS. REDLINE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Derrs, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers for Wells or Ois terns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,whieh form a part of this specification. I s

This invention relates to covers for wells or cisterns, and has for its object to provide a simple device which can be quickly adjusted and which will prevent animals, reptiles, and insects from falling into the water of the wells or cisterns and polluting the same. I

The improvement consists'in having a frame provided with an outer flange, to be built in the wall of the well or cistern, and an inner flange or ledge'to support the cover, and a cover adapted to yield or contract in its circumferential length, whereby it'will adapt itself to any irregularity or variation in the frame and preserve a close joint. The cover is of conical shape, or has its central portion bulged to one side of a planepassing through its edges, and this bulged portion in practice is placed uppermost. By this arrangement and construction the cover can be made of comparatively light stock, and will support the load placed thereon, and will have its edges forced tight against the walls of the frame.

The improvement further consists in the novel details of construction,more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of a well with my improvements in position; Fig. 2, a perspective View of the frame; Fig. 3,a perspective view of the cover, showing the compressibility or yielding properties of the same by dotted lines.

The frame A, which may be of suitable form to correspond with the contour of the mouth of the well or cistern, has an outer flange, a, and an inner flange, b. The outer flange, a, is to-be built in the wall, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, and the inner flange or ledge, b, is to support the cover B. The frame and flanges may be integrally formed, or they may be separate parts and secured together in any of the ways well known to the trade. In the latter case the frame will be a rim or band and will be secured to a skeleton plate between its inner and outer edges, so that a portion of said plate will project inward from the rim and another portion outward, forming the inner and the outer flanges, a and b, respectively.

The cover B, adapted to fit within the frame and rest upon the ledge or flanges b, is adapted to yield or be contracted to reduce its circumferential length, and its edge 0 flares upwardly at an incline, so that when fitted upon the frame the cover, if a little too large, can by a downward pressure be forced into the frame and to its seat upon the ledge or flange b, If slightly too small, the weight of the earth upon the cover will cause it to expand and force its edges close up against the walls of the frame. The cover is conicalshaped or bulged at its center to one side of a plane passing through the edges of said cover. It is open or cut at one side from the center through its edge to form two ends,which normally overlap and are adapted to move over each other, accordingly as the cover is expanded or contracted. The handle D is placed diametrically opposite the cut or overlapping ends and assists in handling the cover. The approximate ends of the flaring edge 0 are cut away to permit the contracting of the cover.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

an outer flange, which is to be built into the wall of a well or cistern, and an inner flange or ledge, of the cover having its central portion bulged to one side of a plane passing through its edges and adapted to contract and expand in its circumferential length, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame having an inner flange, of the cover centrally bulged and having its edge flared upwardly at an inoline and having a radial out to form ends, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 10 which ends normally overlap, substantially as presence of two Witnesses. described, for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, with the frame having JOSEPH S. REDLINE. an inner rest, of the cover conical-shaped and having overlapping ends and having an up- \Vitnesses: wardly-fiared edge, the approximate ends of SAM 0. BROWN, the flared edge being cut away, and the han- E. S. FORNWALD.

dle, substantially as specified. 

